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My philosophy against the Assistive Technology and other personal views
This is last session.
I would like to talk about my philosophy against assistive technology and other personal views.
4 considerationsI would like to discuss four considerations that I think are important in developing and providing assistive aids to people with disabilities.
First, there must be a precise identification of the user's needs.
It is common for users to be unable to specify their exact needs.
If this is the case, the staff should encourage them to describe what they desire.
If the user can not fully identify any desires, clues are often found in the users' occupation, roles in their family, hobbies and future dreams.
Next, the staff must integrate all the information obtained, and clarify the users' needs and available services.The second point is that respect for a user's self determination is essential.
In the process of development and providing assistive aids, any final decision should be made by the user.
To assist in this process of self-determination, we have to provide as many options as possible.
Encouraging self-determination usually improves the users' sense of independence.The third point is that an appropriate selection must be made of the level of technology utilized for the device.
The most highly advanced technology is not necessarily the best choice.
The selection has to be made through a careful assessment of the user's physical, perceptual and cognitive functions.
We also need to know that too much support by assistive aids may cause the user to lose a sense of being alive and his or her motivation to keep living.
To minimize this danger, any interface should be designed by utilizing the user's residual function appropriately.Finally, to improve the quality of assistive aids, the most advanced technology and methods that has been developed in various fieldsÕ needs to be applied.
To accomplish this, extensive collaboration has to take place with other specialist and researchers in Asian country, especially Taiwan.There are often discussions as following,
Which do we should take High technology or Low technology?
How do you think?Professor Duddley Childress, he is working for North Western University in United State.
The following is his answer.
Not high Technology, Not Low Technology,
Just the Right Technology.
I quite agree with his thinking.I would like to show you a short video.
This video was shown on TV in Japan 4 years ago.
This is a last 3 minutes of 40 minuets documentary program.
A person is a progressive muscular dystrophy patient.
He can not move his body by himself except his thumb.
The movement of his thumb is very slight.
Please look at this.That's all.
I deeply appreciate I was gave this opportunity to visit Taiwan and to meet many people of Taiwan.
Thank you very much for your kindness.
Please keep in touch.
Thank you very much.
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